GB2244924A

GB2244924A - Tracheal tube support member

Info

Publication number: GB2244924A
Application number: GB9110607A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Fuller
Original assignee: Smiths Group PLC
Current assignee: Smiths Group PLC
Priority date: 1990-06-07
Filing date: 1991-05-16
Publication date: 1991-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-16
Also published as: GB9012694D0; GB2244924B; GB9110607D0

Abstract

A plastic support device for a paediatric nasotracheal tube 9 comprises a planar pad 1 and an arm 5 which projects from the pad with an adjustable length. The arm, comprising limbs 51, 52, has a ring 81 at one end which receives a coupling secured to the tube 9 and having laterally projecting lugs (62, 63, Fig. 5). A flexible web 82 projects from the ring 81 and supports an arcuate clip 83 which snaps behind lugs 62 and 63 on the coupling to lock the tube in place. The pad has two parallel channels (13 and 14, Fig. 3) which extend across the entire width of the pad and three lateral channels (15 to 17) extending between the channels 13 and 14. The two parallel limbs 51 and 52 are a snap fit in the channels (13 and 14) and a lateral cross piece (53) is a snap fit in one of the lateral channels (15 to 17). <IMAGE>

Description

SUPPORTS FOR MEDICO-SURGICAL TUBES This invention relates to supports for medico-surgical tubes and more particularly, but not exclusively, to supports for tracheal tubes.

Ventilation and anaesthetic gases can be administered to a patient via a tracheal tube that extends into the trachea through the patient's nose or mouth and which is coupled with ventilation tubing at its machine end. With young children especially, whose skin is susceptible to damage by relatively light pressure, it is necessary to support the tracheal tube where it emerges from the patient's nose or mouth. A method of providing such support is described in our patent specification GB 2186801B. This specification describes an adjustable plastics support frame comprising a pad member and a support arm member having a ring at one end which, in use, is located between the connector on the tracheal tube and the mating connector on the ventilation tubing.

A disadvantage with this arrangement is that when the ventilation tubing is disconnected, for example, when suctioning is required, there is nothing to prevent the ring on the support frame coming off the end of the tracheal tube connector.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a support which can be used to alleviate this disadvantage.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a apart member for a medico-surgical tube having a coupling at the machine end of the tube provided with a pair of lateral lugs, the support member comprising a support arm, having attachment means at one end, by which the arm is secured in position and having at its other end a retaining member comprising a ring member adapted to embrace the coupling on the machine side of the lugs, a clip member of arcuate shape adapted to engage on the opposite side of said lugs and a flexible web interconnecting said clip member and said ring member.

The support arm preferably has two parallel limbs joined with the retaining member on opposite sides. The attachment means is preferably a pad member which may have at least one aperture therethrough such that an adhesive layer overlying the pad member can contact an underlying surface through said aperture. The length of the support arm projecting from the pad member may be adjustable. The support arm and the retaining member are preferably an integral moulding of plastics material which may be polypropylene.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provide a support member for a tracheal tube comprising a generally planar pad member, a support arm joined with the pad member at one end and having at its other end clip means arranged to engage a coupling fitted in the machine end of the tracheal tube in a releasable manner.

A paediatric naso-tracheal tube support in accordance with the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the support in use; Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the support; Figure 3 is a plan view of the upper surface of the support; Figure 4 is a view of the under side of the support; and Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line V - V of Figure 2.

With reference first to Figures 1 and 2, the support includes#attachment means in the form of a pad 1that is placed on the forehead of the child which has previously been wrapped with a bandage 3, it is held in position by two strips 4 of adhesive tape; An arm member 5 projects from one side of the pad 1 above the patient's nose. This arm member 5 supports and retains in position the machine end of a naso-tracheal tube 9 by engagement with a coupling 6 secured with the tube. The coupling 6 has a male tapered spigot 60 at its patient end that is inserted into and is bonded to the machine end of the tracheal tube 9. At its machine end, the coupling 6 has a shorter male luer taper 61 which serves to make connection with a mating coupling 18 at the patient end of a ventilation tube 8.Between the patient and machine ends, the coupling has two radially projecting lugs 62 and 63.

Referring now also to Figures 3 to 5, the pad 1 and arm member 5 are separate integral, one-piece mouldings of a light, relatively rigid plastics material, such as polypropylene.

The pad 1 consists of a rectangular planar member 55mm long by 22mm wide. The central region 10 of the pad 1 serves to retain the arm 5 by means of channels 13 to 17 on its upper surface. Two of the channels 13 and 14 extend in parallel laterally across the width of the pad 1 and are linked by the other three channels 15 to 17 which extend parallel with one another longitudinally of the pad. On opposite sides of the central region 10, the pad l has respective flexible wing portions 18 and 19, each of which has a generally rectangular aperture 11 and 12. The apertures 11 and 12 enable the adhesive tape 4 to contact the underlying bandage 3 through the apertures and thereby stabilize the support on the patient's forehead. The wings 18 and 19 are thinner than the central region so that they are flexible and can be bent to the shape of the forehead.The flexibility can be increased by forming a hinge (not shown) between each wing 18 and 19 and the central portion 10, such as by reducing the thickness of the pad 1 along lateral lines between the central portion and each wing. The upper surface of the pad 1 also has two projecting studs 20 and 21 which provide surface formations for secure retention of the adhesive tape 4.

The arm 5 has two parallel limbs 51 and 52 of circular section and of the same thickness and separation as the two lateral channels 13 and 14 in the pad 1, so that the limbs are a snap, press-fit in the channels. The limbs 51 and 52 are spaced from one another by about 14mm and, in use, extend along opposite sides of the patient's nose. At the rear end of the arm, the two limbs 51 and 52 are joined by a lateral cross-piece 53 which is a snap fit in one or other of the longitudinal channels 15 to 17, so that the length of arm 5 projecting from the pad 1 can be set-at three different distances.

The limbs 51 and 52 extend straight to a point 57mm forwardly of the cross-piece 53, where they are each flattened and inclined downwardly at an angle @of 45 degrees to form forward fingers 54 and 55. Short lateral flexible webs 56 and 57, each lmm in length, extend inwardly from the tip of each finger 54 and 55 to a retaining member 80. The retaining member 80 comprises an annular flange 81 that extends in the plane of the fingers 54 and 55. The flange 81 has an internal diameter of 8.5mm, an external diameter of 13mm and a thickness of about 0.9mm. A flexible, resilient web 82 projects downwardly from the forward edge of the flange 81 to support an arcuate clip 83. The clip 83 is supported approximately 4mm beneath the flange 81 and extends parallel to it. The width and thickness of the clip 83 is about Imam. The radius of curvature of the clip is the same as that of the annular flange 81, the arc being in length approximately one third of the circumference of the flange 81.

In use, the underside of the flange 81 is pushed over the luer taper 61 on the coupling 6 until the clip 83 contacts the lugs 62 and 63. The support is then twisted about the axis of the coupling 6 and pushed further towards the lugs 62 and 63 so that the web 82 is bent back and the clip 83 snaps behind the lugs. The flange 81 now lies on one side of the lugs and the clip 83 on the opposite side, so that the coupling 6, and hence the tube 9 to which it is attached, are securely retained in position. The coupling 18 on the ventilation tube 8 can now be connected to the coupling 6 on the tracheal tube 9.

It will be appreciated that, if the ventilation tube 8 needs to be removed, such as for suctioning of the tracheal tube 9, the tracheal tube will remain securely retained in position by the support.

The support is not confined to use with tracheal tubes but could be used for other medico-surgical tubes.

The support need not have a pad at its machine end but could have other attachment means, such as a hook or clip.

Claims

1. A support member ~for a medico-surgical tube having a coupling at the machine end of the tube, said coupling being provided with a pair of lateral lugs, wherein the support member comprises a support arm, having attachment means at one end, by which the arm is secured in position and having at its other end a retaining member comprising a ring member adapted to embrace the coupling on the machine side of the lugs, a clip member of arcuate shape adapted to engage on the opposite side of said lugs and a flexible web interconnecting said clip member and said ring member.

2. A support member for a medico-surgical tube, according to Claim 1, wherein the support arm has two parallel limbs joined with the retaining member on opposite sides.

3. A support member for medico-surgical tube, according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the attachment means is a pad member.

4. A support member for a medico-surgical tube, according to Claim 3 wherein the pad member has at least one aperture therethrough such that an adhesive layer overlying the pad member can contact an underlying surface through said aperture.

5. A support member for a medico-surgical tube, according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the length of the support arm projecting from the pad member is adjustable.

6. A support member for a medico-surgical tube according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support arm and the retaining member are an integral moulding of plastics material.

7. A support member for a medico-surgical tube according to Claim 6, wherein the plastics material is polypropylene.

8. A support member for a tracheal tube wherein the support member comprises a generally planar pad member, a support arm joined with the pad member at one end and having at its other end clip means arranged to engage a coupling fitted in the machine end of the tracheal tube in a releasable manner.

9. A support member for a tracheal tube substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. Any novel feature or combination of features as hereinbefore described.